Catholic or protestant : Virgin of the Mercedes in León only

Catholic or protestant : St Michael - Christian celebration of angels as companions who help fight off the power of evil and who are present at the hour of death. in Lleida only

Catholic or protestant :

Catholic or protestant :

Catholic or protestant :

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

Catholic or protestant : Christmas Day in the provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat, Satun, Yala

Catholic or protestant : Christian remembrance of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Catholic or protestant : Remembrance of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Catholic or protestant :

Catholic or protestant : The term comes from ancient Greek and means appearance . Celebrated on the 6th January, this feast corresponds to the presentation of Child Jesus to the Magi. This is the day of Jesus' first miracle, the Wedding in Cana , and the day of his own baptism Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Catholic or protestant : Saint Meinrad in Einsiedeln only

Catholic or protestant : Saint Agatha of Sicily

Catholic or protestant : Carnival

Catholic or protestant : Christian observance to begin the 40 day season of Lent. Ashes are marked on worshippers as a sign of penitence.

Catholic or protestant : Until 14:00

Catholic or protestant : Please check with www.fasnachts-comite.ch (in German) for a list of numerous festivities. It all begins with what is known as the Morgestraich. At exactly 4 a.m., all the lights in the city center go off. Out of the pitch darkness, the sound of drums and piccolos waft through the cold night air. Closer and closer it comes, and a faint light glows in the distance. Suddenly, there they are, coming from all directions, the musicians and marchers of the city’s Fasnacht cliques. Each wears a masks. Some have small lamps on their heads. They carry painted lanterns that mock things that happend during the past year.

Catholic or protestant :

Catholic or protestant : Mid-Lent

Catholic or protestant :

Catholic or protestant :

Catholic or protestant : Maundy Thursday: Commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist (Lord's Supper).

Catholic or protestant : Good Friday

Catholic or protestant : The First Council of Nicaea (a gathering of bishops in the early days of Christianity) wanted to find a day to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This commemoration had to be linked to Jewish holiday traditions, since the last supper of Christ was believed to be a Jewish Passover meal. But the Jewish calendar is based on lunar and solar cycles, so the Easter celebration had to follow the same calendar.

Catholic or protestant : paid holiday

Catholic or protestant : Spiritual/Shouter Baptist Liberation Day is an annual public holiday celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago on 30 March. The holiday commemorates the repeal on 30 March 1951 of the 1917 Shouter Prohibition Ordinance that prohibited the activities of the Shouter or Spiritual Baptist faith. Trinidad and Tobago is the only country in the world that celebrates a public holiday for the Spiritual Baptist faith. [Wikipedia]

Catholic or protestant : paid holiday